January 11, 20196 yr Since I'm busy resurrecting Shaggy threads, it's time to bring the stone cold brilliance of James McMurtry here. There have been so many dusty nights in the field that I've just cranked this song, watching the sun go down across the vast, empty expanse in front of me. Fuck. Edited January 11, 20196 yr by Al_4_ISU
January 11, 20196 yr Cool memory from some time in 2001, stumbling into Saxon Pub with a date and it's a solid blues jam night. Great vibe but it doesn't matter much. My date's rubbing all up and down my jeans like they're some damn worry beads. We're probably annoying some music purists. Over my shoulder, sitting alone at the tall 4-top table nearest the door is this quiet, almost frail nerdy dude scribbling notes onto a pad. He looks like the kinda guy who wants to tell you about how things were better at the "Arma-dilla" and "original-orginal" Antones, before the Dellionaires starting fucking everything up or maybe how he almost got to make out with Patty Griffin one time. I notice him and then I don't. Until the singer on stage stops and asks him to come up and play. He shyly, almost begrudgingly walks up there and plugs in. I'm expecting some grooved out Gordon Lightfoot type shit, at best, but even that's not going to spoil this night. I'm prepared to give polite applause. So, yeah, turns out to be James McMurtry and blows the fucking doors off the place with Choctaw Bingo. Mesmerizing introduction to this singular talent. It was jaw-on-the-floor good and utterly unexpected. He quits after just the one song and shuffles back to his note pad. My date congratulates his brave effort like a soccer mom would a fat 8-yr-old at a gymnastics competition. He's too in-his-own-world to be offended. Cool night. Obviously, big fan ever since. Edited January 11, 20196 yr by Lou Loomis
January 12, 20196 yr Author 21 hours ago, 4th&Five said: This has been my favorite lately: I think this song was a major influence on Evan Felker. Turnpike’s “The Bird Hunters” treads similar ground.
January 13, 20196 yr Such a quirky dude. Such a talent. Ol' Jimmy Rainey. The St. Mary of the Woods and Childish Things albums blow me away every damn time I listen to them.
January 13, 20196 yr I'm more a fan of Todd Snider's take: Will Rogers said he never met a man he didn't like Wait, let back up and see if I have that right He might have said he liked he every man he met, that's true But he never said he liked every man that he knew.
July 26, 20214 yr On 7/24/2021 at 2:28 PM, Seasick Sailor said: ACL taping from 1990: Damn good set... Had the pleasure of seeing Grissom play with Joe Ely small venue a few years ago. Dude can guitar orchestra....
August 13, 20214 yr I've been going through all of the streaming performances on Youtube like the one above. They are fantastic. Just McMurtry and his guitars (with the occasional appearance from one of his dogs). The set lists span his entire career. He also plays stuff off the new album. I can't recommend these enough.
August 19, 20214 yr Digging the new record. A couple of actual, upbeat tunes....Grissom and Sexton are all over it and Harmoni Kelley provides some background vocals.
August 19, 20214 yr and if my fucking wife doesn't quite putting shit on top of my turntable.....grrrrrrrrrrr Edited August 19, 20214 yr by hullabelew
July 13, 20241 yr I don't know if this is the official McMurtry thread, but I'm bumping this for my new favorite song of his. Pinocchio In Vegas (unreleased on any album I believe). Two versions, one with good production but censored, and one unedited but on a cellphone. Lyrics are below. So many great fucking lines, including the killer opening. The last line kills me. Pinocchio’s in Vegas, with his eye on the prize He’s a real boy now, his dick grows when he lies His face stays frozen like it’s still made of wood It displays no emotion as he cleans ‘em out good At that back room table, most any Friday night He don’t even need the money, he just did it out of spite He misses ol’ Geppetto, gone now two years The boy is spendin’ real money, and he’s cryin’ real tears You’d a thought it’d been a straight and simple untaxed estate It was nearly out of probate when it blew up in his face There were whispers in the shadows, all around the town Heretofore unknown relations, ol’ Geppetto got around Who were my grandmother’s friends? Used to play bridge every Tuesday at ten Who were the neighbors next door? When I was still crawlin’ on the floor When the claims came to light, Pinocchio was blue The lawyers had a field day, just like they always do First they tried to fleece ‘em for a rainbow’s worth of gold He had to sue Walt Disney over copyright control He got less than he wanted, more than they would give Both sides were bitter, both sides’ll live Who were my grandmother’s friends? Used to take me fishin’ every now and then Who were the neighbors next door? Who all did we lose in the war? Snappin’ peas on that front porch step Come and take them watermelon rinds Toss ‘em over the horse-lot fence Go wash up and quit that cryin’ Pinocchio is over it, he don’t beat up on himself He’s had to learn to be an asshole just like everybody else Where the dogs eat the dogs and the cats eat the mice You pick a hill to die on, don’t bother actin’ nice Cause that don’t serve you well at the end of the day They don’t have to come and take it if you give it all away Who were my grandmother’s friends? Used to play bridge every Tuesday at ten Who were the neighbors next door? When I was still crawlin’ on the floor I say who were my grandmother’s friends? Used to take me fishin’ every now and then Who were the neighbors next door? I can’t call you up and ask you anymore Edited July 13, 20241 yr by bschoolprof
July 13, 20241 yr I saw him and Betty Soo do that song in Archer City last summer. What a great song. His first time to really talk about his relationship with his dad.
July 16, 20241 yr Years ago on the old Ron & Fez show on Sirius a truck driver called in and turned them onto Choctaw Bingo and suggested it should replace the National Anthem. Hard to disagree
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